Middle English Dictionary Entry
thǒnder n.
Entry Info
| Forms | thǒnder n. Also thondere, -ir, -or, -our, thondre, thunder, -ir(e, -ur, thundre, ðhunder, thounder & thon(n)er(e, thonir, -or(e, -our, thonre, thunnere, thunure, thouner, -ir, (early) þunre & donder(e, dunder, dunnir & (in names) thondr-, thundr-, thuner, thanr-, tonder-, tondre-, tunder-, tundre-, tunr(e)-; gen. thondres, etc. & (early) ðþunres, (in place name) thundes- & (errors) þornes, wunres; pl. thonders, etc. & (early gen.) þunra & (error) ðhunerg. |
| Etymology | OE þunor, -er, -or, oblique þunr-. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
(a) The loud or rumbling noise often heard before or during a rainstorm, thunder; also, a thunderclap; ~ and leven (leveninge, lightinge, lightninge), lightinge and ~; god of ~, Jupiter; (b) a thunderstorm, a violent storm characterized by thunder; on thondres liche, ?in the likeness of a tempest; (c) thunder as a destructive force apparently distinct from lightning; also fig.; also, a thunderclap as a destructive force, a thunderbolt; also, lightning; dint (stroke) of ~; ~ slaine, killed by thunder; (d) in similes.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1117 : Ðises geares..wurdon ormætlica wædera mid þunre & lihtinge & reine.
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)91/8 : Emb þunre, [etc.].
- ?c1335(a1300) Cokaygne (Hrl 913)39 : Þer nis dunnir, slete, no hawle.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8583 : Gret liȝtinge þer was & þondre [B vr. þonre] aboute sein lukes day.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)593 : Ieo oy toner qar il tonne: Thundre for hit thoundruth.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.492 : He ne lafte nat for reyn ne thonder [vrr. þondur, þondere]..to visite The ferreste in his parisshe muche and lite.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.306 : It brekth the cloudes alle, The whiche of so gret noyse craken, That thei the feerful thonder maken.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)139a/a : Off impressiouns þat beþ i-gendred in þe eyre of double vapour, The firste is þondir.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)533 : Þis aand þat men draus oft Betakens wynd þat blaws o loft, O quilk es thoner and leuening ledd.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)875 : Þunder þrowez in torrez blo.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)20 : I hurd dondere how he denede.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1219 : The thunder [vr. thounder] rored with a grisely stevene.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)112/21 : A thonnere & a leuennynge..all babyloyne qwoke.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)113/14 : There aryn none tempestis of non maner of wedyr in that contre, of thondir, ne hail, ne snow.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)608 : I..Am dwellynge with the god of thonder Which that men callen Jupiter.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)397 : Thundir and lightenenge, hayle and rayn, Wheneuer thei wolde in certayn, Thai shewed it in dede apertly.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)865/17 : Than anone they harde crakynge and cryynge of thundir.
- a1475 Prk.Weather & Moon in NM 58 (Brog 2.1)170 : Thys brekyng out of þe fyer causithe thys excellent and ferfull noyse þat ys called the þondur.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)128a : A Thownyr: Tonitrus.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.281 : At mydmorwe sodeynly cam a blac skye with þondyr and lefne & a gret numbre of fendys in lyknesse of rafnes and rokys.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.in Centaurus 12 (Lnsd 793)219/5358 : Þe exalacioun þat is drye Is ycaste amonge þe clowdes hye From oon to anoþer as a bal, But at þe laste it out shal, And whanne it brekeþ a-sondre A noyse it makeþ we calle a þondre.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)802/1 : Tonitrus: thwndur.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7619 : A thondir with a thicke Rayn thrublit in þe skewes.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1109 : Ðises geares gewurdon swiðe fela þunra.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.DD (Lamb 487)43 : Heore eȝen weren al swilc swa fur, and heore eþem scean swa deð þe leit a-monge þunre.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.DD (Lamb 487)43 : Þa com ure drihten of heueneriche to heom on wunres [read: þunres] liche.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6019 : Was a weder ful selcut snell, A thonor wit an haile sua kene.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6032 : Prai for me nou moyses þi lauerd to do þis thoner ses.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)2 : In this same yere..there were greete Reynes and eke Thundres.
c
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)535 : Þat fuyr up an heiȝ..goþelez in þe watere loude..And þat is þe þondre.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1108 : Ai was borgen bala-segor, Ðor-quile ðat loth dwelledde ðor, Oc siðen loth wente ut of hine, Brende it ðhunder, sanc it erðe-dine.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3799 : Him þouȝt water, winde, and rain In her teþ was hem oȝain Her pauilouns ouerþrewe þe þonder.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)130/11 : Þise byeþ uour strokes of þondre þet astoneþ þane zeneȝere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2002 : Fro the sky A firy thonder sodeinly He sende and him to pouldre smot.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9153 : Þundyr ne lyȝtnyng dyd hem no dere.
- a1400 Devotion Cross (Bod 177)228 : Dunder ne lyȝtnyng..shal neuer harme the.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4463 : Þe..stroke of þe þondre Smote in þe mast.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)189/19 : Wee weren cast doun..be wyndes and thondres [Man.(2): thouner].
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)101/25 : Þer fel gret leuenys wyth hedows thunderys, gresely & greuows, þat sche feryd hir þat it xulde a smet hir to deth.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn)58/20 : A grysely storme with thonore rase..& slewe all þe wormes by-dene.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)86/320 : Oure wynes..may not thryve, So ar they threst and thondour slayne.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)534 : Never was ther dynt of thonder..That smot somtyme a tour to powder..That so swithe gan descende As this foul.
- c1485(?a1400) Child Bristow (Hrl 2382)236 : Þer cam a blast of lightnynge & dunder Thurgh the walles wide, As al þe place on fire had be.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)40/30 : Of rayne cometh thundres in the aier, layte falleth, waters swelleth, the sees tempesteth, and many harmes oft cometh wher-thurgh many lyvyng thynges ben perisshed.
- a1500 Bod.EMisc.Lapid.(BodEMisc e.558)31/242 : She [coral] sauyth hem fro thondyr & tempest & þe place þer she is.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)810 : Anoon come falling fro þe heuene A greet þondre and a leuene And smote þe foure men to þe grounde.
d
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)631 : Hure strokes full so styþ & sare; þay schulde so doþ þe þonder.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)304/13 : They departed their horsis and com togydyrs as hit had bene thundir.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)556/6 : Than they russhed togydirs as hit had bene thundir.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1304 : Har dentes ferd as donder, Þe peces gonne out-sprynge.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)210 : Thei com as faste as thunder so harde a-monge her enmyes.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)387 : He made appere..a grete flame of fire as reade as thunder.
1b.
In cpds. & combs.: ~ (thondres) blast, a thunderclap; ~ bolt, a lightning bolt; ?also, a precious stone [quot. ?c1475]; ~ clappe, q.v.; ~ clover [OE þunor-clāfre], a mayweed or similar flower; ~ crak, thondres dine, the sound of thunder; ~ (thondres) dint, a thunderclap; a thunderbolt [see also dint n. 2.(d)]; ~ flon, a bolt of lightning; thondres leie, a lightning flash; also, a thunderclap; ~ leminge, a lightning flash; ~ light, thondres light [OE þunors-liht], lightning; a lightning flash; ~ lighten (lightninge), lightning; ~ soun, the sound of thunder; ~ stroke (threste), a lightning bolt; ~ weder, a thunderstorm; winter ~.
Associated quotations
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)85/24 : Þa wæs þær geworden mycel stefne, & mycel liht swylc þunreslege.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)11/18 : Hwa is ðat nis ofdradd of ðese muchele ðþunresleiȝ ðe cumþ ut of godes auȝene muðe?
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)104/728 : An engel..draf þerto dunriht as a þunres dune ant duste hit a swuch dunt þet hit bigon to cleaterin.
- a1300 Hrl.978 Vocab.(Hrl 978)558/2 : Consolida media: þundreclouere.
- ?a1300 Fiftene toknen (Dgb 86)16 : Þe stere sulen from heuene falle..So doþ þat fuir of þornes [read: þonres; vr. thundyr] ligt.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.171 : After þat folwede mortalite of men, rotynge of bestes, and thunder lemynge brend þe cornes [L fulgur segetes ustulavit].
- c1390(?a1325) Adam & E.(2) (Vrn)223/37 : A þunder-blast com, and he and Eue..wenten togedere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.839 : He [God] brente fyue citees with thonder leyt [vrr. lightnyng, liȝting, lyghtne] and sank hem in to helle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.307-9 : The thonderstrok smit er it leyte, And yit men sen the fyr and leyte, The thonderstrok er that men hiere.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18075 : Þar come a steuen als thoner blast [Göt: thoru blast].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3737 : Þere hij holdeþ hem to-gidre, So flok of dere in þonder-wedre.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)952 : Clowdez clustered bytwene, kesten up torres, Þat þe þik þunder-þrast þirled hem ofte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1787 : Þou founde weder foule & faire, Now agreable, now þe thounder sowne.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)1382 : A voice spak þan ful hidosely, als it war thonors [vrr. thonours, a thonor, a thunner] blast.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5418 : Þe heven oboven sal strike þam sar With thundirs dyntes and levenyngs togyder.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.4.11 : Thonderleit [L Ardentis..fulminis]..is wont to smyten hye toures.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)182/12 : Sum-tyme þer cum gret thundir-krakkys & makyn þe pepil ful sor a-feerd.
- c1440 Chaucer CT.WB.(Lin-C 110)D.732 : After thundris dynt [Heng: er that thonder stynte comth a reyn].
- (?1447) Waltham Annals (Tit D.15)353 : Wynter thunder bredeth wonder.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)18.47 : Him thowghte A thondir blast gan gon.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)554 : Thonere-thrastis ware thra, thristid þe welkyn.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)49/9 : Þis womman was burnyd to dede with a thondre-bolte & fell down to assh.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14400 : He wyl..Make a noyse and a gret soun..Lyk as yt wer a thonder dent.
- a1475 Asneth (Hnt EL 26.A.13)588 : Sche turned and saw like a char with foure hors passyng In heuen toward the est like flame of fire reed, The hors assembling to þe flame, of þunder leihtnyng.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)289/531 : As wylde fyre and thondyr blast he cam cryeng on to me.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)127a : A Thonyrbolte: Seraunia.
- a1500(?a1375) Hermit & O.(Add 22577)102 : Fayre convertyd he was Wyth thundyr blast, wynde and reyne.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)110/324 : So bright as it shone, I wold haue trowyd..it had bene thoner flone.
2.
(a) With ref. to the characteristic sound of thunder or of a thunderclap;—used esp. in similes; also person.; voice of thonder(es; (b) fig. ominous or threatening words; a fulmination.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)48/7 : Wið þis þa þuhte hit as þah a þunre dunede.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)190/18 : Þo cam þare in a stounde A drem [Corp-C: strong dunt] ase þei it a þondre were.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)473 : Þo i-heordan heo..gret betynge and noyse i-nouȝ, þondre ase þei it were.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6282 : He ssoc is suerd..& mid such ernest smot Þat þat fur sprong out mid ech dunt..As þonder þat soun was, þe siȝt as liȝting.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.44 : I..herd þat on of þe foure beestes seide vnto me, as it were a voice of þondres, 'come see.'
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.10.4 : Marke what thinges the seuen thundres spaken.
- c1390(a1325) Ipotis (Vrn)378 : Whon hit goþ, hit rot as þonder [vr. tonder].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18124 : Þar come a mikel steuen, Als it a thoner war of heuen.
- c1400 Apoc.(2) (Hrl 171)67/21 : Þe voice of þe greete þundire is þe voice of hem þat in þis lijf dreden God.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4314 : The noyse, hydousher [read: hydouser] than thonder, Of gonne-shot and Arblastys..loude out-ronge.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)109b : Þanne came a gret voyce, as hit were a thondre.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)183/34 : Þe sound qwyche is clepyd noȝt bestly is..as a thondyr, a tympan, an harp, and sqwyche odyr.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1809 : Dores and wyndowes alle Beten yn þe halle As hyt wer voys of þunder.
- a1500 Tundale (Adv 19.3.1)1179 : He herde a dynne lyke a þonder.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)7999 : A voice as thonour made was tho.
b
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2900 : Abraham, ysac, and hise sunen Woren to min ðhunerg [?read: ðhuners] wunen, Ðog me tagte ic hem nogt for-ði Min mig[t]ful name adonay.
- c1400 Wycl.Dominion (Dub 244)288 : Drede we nouȝt þis þondir, for it turneþ aȝen & cursiþ þe welle þat it come fro.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.3456 : The rethoricien..Mut seeke weies..tappese the boistous thonder, Be wise exaumplis..Tenduce the parties to been of oon assent.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)76.17 : The voice of thi thunure: that is, of thi worde manaunsand hell till synful men.
3.
The name of the god Thor; ~ (thondres) dai, the day of Thor, Thursday [cp. Thures-dai n.].
Associated quotations
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1100 : On þæne Þunresdæg he wæs ofslagen.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1106 : Þæt is se Þunresdæg toforan Eastran.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6951 : Þa þunre [Otho: þonre] heo ȝiuen Þunres-dæi [Otho: Þorisdai].
- c1460 Oseney Reg.138/19 : Þe þundurday nexte after the ffest of þe Birth of owr lorde.
4.
Error through misinterpretation of contraction of the def. art. + ouer (spelling of over adj.) as thoner (spelling of thonder n.), but cp. under adj.
Associated quotations
- ?c1400 Cursor (Arms 57)539-40 : Thonder [Trin-C: þondir; Vsp: þe ouer] fyre ȝyueþ mon his siȝte; Thonder eyer [Trin-C: þondir oþer; Vsp: þat ouer air] of heryng myȝte; Þis wondur [Vsp: vnder] wynde hym ȝyueþ onde.
5.
(a) As surname; (b) in place names [see Smith PN Elem.2.217].
Associated quotations
a
- a1259 MParis CM (Corp-C 26)1.288 : Erat autem in domo regis memorati minister quidam..Thuner nomine, quod Latine Tonitruum sonat.
b
- (c1100) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)295 : Þunresfeld.
- (1143) in Ekwall Dict.EPN449 : Tondreleia.
- (1199) in Ekwall Dict.EPN449 : Tunrele.
- (1203) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)172 : Tunreslegh; Tunderle.
- (1254) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)205 : Tunrich.
- (1257) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)172 : Tundresleg; Tundrelee; Thundreslee; Thundeslee.
- (1260) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)172 : Thunderley.
- (1277) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)205 : Thanrugge.
- (1286) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)172 : Thondresle.
- (1287) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)205 : Thonrugge.
- (1293) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)205 : Thunrugge.
- (1295) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)172 : Tonderle.
- (1304) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)205 : Thundrych.
- (1346) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)172 : Thundirle.
- (1428) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)205 : Thondrych.